Carpal Tunnel from Phone: Symptoms and Prevention Tips

CTS results from compression of the median nerve as it passes through your wrist. Repetitive motions can cause swelling and inflammation, putting pressure on the nerve.

A small 2017 study investigating the effects of electronic device use among 48 university students found that those who used their devices for more than 5 hours a day had more negative effects on the median nerve.

A 2021 study involving 285 participants found a link between CTS and 4 hours per day or more of smartphone use. Researchers also noted that those who held the smartphone with both hands were almost eight times more likely to develop CTS.

A 2022 study involving 404 participants found that the risk of CTS increased with each hour spent on the phone per day. It was also more common among people with higher scores on the smartphone addiction scale, which considers factors like time spent on the phone, online relationships, and daily life disturbance.

These relatively small studies aren’t enough to firmly establish a link between smartphones and CTS, and other studies haven’t found a link. While caution may be warranted, more research is needed.

In a 2023 study, more than half of participants experienced hand or wrist pain due to phone use. Common effects include:

• weakening of the hand in which you hold your phone
• numbness
• cramping and inflammation, especially in the pinky and thumb (aka “smartphone finger” or “texting thumb”)

Whether or not phone use can cause CTS, experts agree that it can worsen symptoms. A 2019 study found that some factors may cause you to be more likely to experience CTS symptoms. These include:

Limiting time spent on your smartphone can help reduce your risk of related hand and wrist injuries. But smartphone use is…